Portable table structure



Get 15, 1935. E. VERSTRAETE 2,017,223

PORTABLE TABLE STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 9, 1954 3 4 /7 i L 1 I 6 INVENTOR nc7%n9fr'aeie BY y ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES QFIQE 3 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to table structures, and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel portable table structure that may be readily carried from room to room and supported upon any piece of furniture having a drawer.

It is ofttimes necessary to temporarily provide a table or similar supporting surface in various rooms of a residence or other buildings, and it is not always convenient or possible to move a table from one room to another and ofttimes such a table is not available.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel portable table structure that is of light, strong construction and may be conveniently carried from room to room or from one place to another and quickly and easily set up for use wherever a piece of furniture having a drawer is located, the novel table structure being mounted directly upon a drawer in use.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of a novel portable table structure of the above character having a table top and bracket means hingedly connected to said table top, together with adjustable means for limiting the turning movement of said bracket means with respect to said table top, said bracket means serving to engage a drawer for supporting said table top thereabove and cooperating with adjustable means to enable the table top to be set level or at an inclined position as desired, regardless of any deviation of the drawer from a horizontal position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel portable table structure of the above character that is of simple durable construction and may be manufactured cheaply in large quantities. 7

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the novel portable table structure mounted on the drawer of a desk.

Fig. 2 is a view looking up at the bottom of the portable table structure.

Fig. 3 is a part sectional view showing the table structure in side elevation and mounted on a level drawer, the table top being horizontal.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but shows the table structure mounted on a tilting drawer,

the table structure being adj usted so as to cause the table top to be horizontal.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but shows the table top tilted as when using the same to support a drawing board. 5

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a slightly modified detail of construction.

Similar characters of reference are employed in said views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawing, the reference numeral I designates a piece of furniture having a drawer 2 which is pulled out somewhat to sup- 15 port the novel portable table structure 3 of this invention. Although the piece of furniture I is illustrated as a desk it is to be understood that any piece of furniture having a drawer may be used to support the table structure of this in- 20 vention.

The table structure 3 comprises a table top 4 that is shown as of the general type employed for card. tables although any type of table top such as wood, composition or metal may be used. The 25 type of table top 4 shown in the drawing is generally of cloth covered cardboard that is carried by a square or rectangular wood frame 5. Reenforcing bars 6 underlie the table top 4 and have their ends secured to the frame 5. 30

According to the preferred arrangement, two spaced brackets 1 underlie the table top 4. These brackets l have the form of rearwardly extending bars that are hingedly connected at their forward ends by hinges 8 to the under surface of 35 the table top 4, i. e. to the reenforcing bars 6 at points positioned rearwardly of the transverse centerline of the table top 4. From the hinges 8 the bars or brackets l extend rearwardly and for a distance beyond the rear edge of table top 40 The under surface of the forward portion of brackets 1 is cut away below hinge 8 to provide two steps or ledges 9 and I0, and these steps together with the adjacent undersurface of brackets I, are preferably covered with cloth, felt 4 or other soft material 5 i to prevent the brackets I from possibly marring or scratching the upper forward drawer edge in use. I

Depending bolts I2 have their head portions carried by the rear part of table top 4, i. e. by the frame 5, and the shanks of these bolts project downwardly through slots or apertures 13 provided in the brackets 1. Wing nuts M are threaded on the shanks of bolts I2 and serve to hold washers l5 against the undersurf ace of the brackets 1. By threading wing nuts l4 upwardly toward the heads of bolts l2, the brackets l are turned upwardly about their hinged connections 8 until these brackets abut the under surface of the table top 4, i. e. the under surface of bars 6 as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and Fig. 6. r

In use, to mount the novel table structure on the drawer 2, it is merely necessary to pull this drawer out or forwardly somewhat and insert the projecting rear end portions of brackets 1 into the drawer so that these rear end portions underlie the top N of the drawer opening in the desk I (see Fig. 3). The table top 4 is then lowered until its under surface rests upon the top forward edge ll of drawer 2 as shown in Fig. 3. As thus positioned, the greater portion of the table top 4 projects forwardly of drawer 2 so that the overbalancing weight of this part of the table top serves to press the rear portions of brackets 1 firmly against the top N5 of the drawer opening, so that the table structure is solidly mounted in place. Since the greater portion of the table top 4 projects forwardly of the drawer 2, ample leg room is provided under this table top. I

With the brackets 1 abutting the under surface of the table top 4 and the forward upper edge ll of drawer 2 level with the top l6 of the drawer opening, as shown in Fig. 3, the table top 4 will also be level, i. e. lie in a horizontal plane. If, however, the drawer 2 should slant or incline downwardly (see Fig. 4) as sometimes happens, especially in old and worn furniture, the table top 4 would not be level if this top rested directly on the forward upper edge ll of the drawer and hence in such case, the table top is positioned so that one of the steps 9 or ID engages the top edge ll of the drawer. If the drawer 2 inclines but slightly, the step or ledge 8 is used and, if the drawer inclines more, the step 10 is used. In'

case of considerable inclination of the drawer, the forward under surface of brackets 1 are positioned to rest on edge l1.

In some instances, it is' desirable to have the tabletop 4 slant downwardly (see Fig. 5) as when using this table top as a drawing board or for supporting a drawing board. In such case, the wing nuts I 4 are threaded downwardly on the bolts 12, thereby permitting brackets 1 to turn downwardly about their hinge connections 8.

When the table structure is now mounted upon a drawer, the table top 4 will incline downwardly and forwardly, the amount of such inclination with respect to a level plane depending upon the position of nuts 14 on bolts l2.

If desired, instead of using bolts [2, I may employ depending rack bolts l8 that are pivotally" connected at their upper ends to the table top 4 as shown in Fig. 7-. The teeth IQ of these rack bolts engage plates .20 fixed on brackets I. Springs 2| are carried by the brackets l and serve to resiliently hold the rack bolts 18 in engagement with plates 20. When itis desired to adjust the inclination of table top 4, it is merely necessary to push rearwardly upon rack bolts l8 so that they disengage plates 20, whereupon the inclination of the brackets "I with respect to the table top 4 may be varied at will. 5

It will be noted that since the novel table structure of this invention has no legs, the same can be made very light in weight, thereby providing for the easy carrying of the same about. Since the table structure may be mounted on any 10 drawer, the field of use of the same is very extensive. It will be apparent that instead of employing two of the brackets 1, a single relatively wide bracket may be used, in which case but a single boltlZ or rack bolt l8 need be employed. As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, as defined by the following claims, it is intended 20 that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:-- 1. A portable table structure comprising, a table top, a bracket hingedly connected at its forward upper portion to the under surface of said table top, the rear portion of said bracket projecting rearwardly of said table top, and bolt means depending from said table top and having means thereon for engaging said bracket for adjustably limiting the turning movement of said bracket about its hinged connection with said table top. 2. A portable table structure comprising, a table top, a bracket hingedly connected at its forward upper portion to the under surface of said table top, the forward under portion of said bracket being stepped for selectively engaging a 0 drawer, the rear portion of said bracket projecting rearwardly of said table top, and bolt means depending from said table top and having means thereon for engaging said bracket for adjustably limiting the turning movement of said bracket about its hinged connection with said table top.

3. A portable table structure comprising,- a table top, a bracket hingedly connected at its forward upper portion to the under surface of said table top, said bracket being apertured and having steps provided in its forward under surface, the rear portion of said bracket projecting for a distance rearwardly of said table top, a bolt depending from said table top and extending through the aperture in said bracket, and a nut threaded upon said bolt and engaging the under surface of said bracket for adjusting the angular position thereof with respect to said table top.

' EDMOND VERSTRAETE. 

